A HAVE-a-go hero is to be honoured for his bravery after racing to the aid of a bobby trying to break up a mob brawling on the streets with knives and bats.

Courageous Robert Dell, from Sutton Coldfield, leapt into action after seeing the motorcycle officer swamped by the battling factions, one wielding a ceremonial sword on West Bromwich High Street.

Mr Dell said: “The officer said that I had saved his bacon.

“But I couldn’t stand by and watch a policeman getting set about, so I jumped out of my car and got stuck in to help him.”

The 39-year-old has now been told that he is to be awarded a Good Citizenship Certificate by Chief Constable Sir Paul Scott-Lee.

Married dad-of-one Mr Dell, who runs wrought iron railings maker RJ Engineering, was driving through West Bromwich in March last year when he saw the trouble unfold.

He said: “I saw a group of lads with baseball bats, knives and a ceremonial sword and had to stop. A policeman came the other way on his motorbike and I prayed for him to stop.

“He grabbed the guy with the sword but as he tried to restrain him it all went off.

“I managed to get to him and thumped someone to get them off him and stood guard over him until other officers arrived.

“He’d had one of two thumps but luckily he was more shook up than injured.”

The former bodybuilder added: “At the time, I didn’t think for an instant about getting hurt, although I thought about it more afterwards. I’m 6ft 3in tall and 20 stone so they probably thought twice about it.”

In a surprise letter informing him of the award, Sir Paul wrote: “Thank you for your public spirited action. It is by the public helping us that we have any hope of defeating crime.”

“It’s so nice to be recognised,” said Mr Dell, whose seven-year-old daughter Charlotte had been so proud that she had taken the letter in to school.

A police spokesman said Mr Dell would receive his award at a special Police Authority Awards event next month.

The spokesman added that three men were arrested in connection with the incident and were due to stand trial later.